West Ranch lacrosse player breaks state record

West Ranch senior J.K. Torres (10) competes against Malibu on April 2 at Malibu High School.

West Ranch lacrosse player J.K. Torres set a new California state record with 12 goals in his team’s 22-6 win over the Simi Valley Pioneers on Monday.

The senior’s 12 goals were one short of the national record, set by Nicholas Treon of Danville High in Danville, Pa., in 2013, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

“I felt really good going into it and we played a really good game,” said Torres. “It all comes down to the team. The reason I get any opening is because of them. I was on the receiving end of everyone’s good play.”

The Wildcats, in their second season as an official CIF-sanctioned team, are now 7-2 on the season.

Torres, who will be attending NCAA Division III school Aurora University in Illinois, leads West Ranch with 42 goals through nine games this season. The next highest scorer is senior Colton Long, with 13.

Torres also leads the Wildcats with 11 assists.

“We’ve been playing pretty well,” said Torres of the team. “We have a really strong group of underclassmen that we rely on.”

Although Monday’s outburst was special, Torres isn’t a stranger to scoring binges.

In West Ranch’s 13-7 win over Valencia on April 3, Torres had five goals. He netted another seven in the Wildcats’ 15-6 win over Valencia.

So as he got caught up in the game against Simi Valley, Torres didn’t notice he was closing in on history until late.

“I didn’t even realize how many goals I had until after the third quarter when I saw I had nine,” said Torres. “It felt like I only had three or four but the ball kept landing in my hands and I kept going.”

Torres and the Wildcats will try and continue their hot play when the host Viewpoint on April 18.